Manar al-Sharif
Manar al-Sharif (born 1997/1998, Damascus){{Cite web |last=Jaffe-Hoffman |first=Maayan |date=2019-05-06 |title=‘My kids are screaming’ – Palestinians in Gaza tell 'Post' they are afraid |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/my-kids-are-screaming-palestinians-in-gaza-tell-post-they-are-afraid-588839 |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}} is a Syrian Palestinian journalist and peace activist.{{Cite web |last=Norlian |first=Allison |title=Life In Gaza: A Syrian Woman’s Experiences With Hamas And Her Work To Improve Israeli/Palestinian Relations |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/allisonnorlian/2021/11/12/life-in-gaza-a-syrian-womans-experiences-with-hamas-and-her-work-to-improve-israelipalestinian-relations/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Forbes |language=en}}
Early life and education
Al-Sharif was born and raised in a devout Muslim family in Damascus, Syria.{{Cite web |last=Rocchi |first=Daniele |date=May 16, 2019 |title=Striscia di Gaza: giovani israeliani e palestinesi costruiscono la pace a colpi di pedale e di video-chiamate Skype |url=https://www.difesapopolo.it/Media/OpenMagazine/Il-giornale-della-settimana/ARTICOLI-IN-ARRIVO/Striscia-di-Gaza-giovani-israeliani-e-palestinesi-costruiscono-la-pace-a-colpi-di-pedale-e-di-video-chiamate-Skype |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=La Difesa del Popolo |language=it}}{{Cite web |last=Pacchiani |first=Gianluca |date=2023-12-07 |title=‘Life under Hamas is like under ISIS,’ says Syria-born journalist deported from Gaza |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/life-under-hamas-is-like-under-isis-says-syria-born-journalist-deported-from-gaza/ |access-date=2024-12-08 |website=www.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}} She and her family moved to Cairo, Egypt , in 2013, due to the Syrian civil war.{{Cite web |last=Zivotofsky |first=Ari Z. |last2=Greenspan |first2=Ari |date=2023-03-28 |title=Beyond the Biggest |url=https://mishpacha.com/beyond-the-biggest/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=Mishpacha Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Jaffe-Hoffman |first=Maayan |date=2021-12-16 |title=One Arab woman's journey - from Gaza to Canada |url=https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/one-arab-womans-journey-from-gaza-to-canada-688984 |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en-US}} Al-Sharif wanted to attend college, but her conservative religious parents were reluctant to allow her to. They eventually gave permission for al-Sharif to study at the Islamic University of Gaza. Al-Sharif traveled to Gaza in 2017 to study journalism at the university, but she dropped out after a few months, citing the “Hamas propaganda” at the school, saying "It wasn’t professional and it wasn’t journalism".
Career
Al-Sharif first began writing for American, Australian, and Israeli publications. She primarily wrote about life in the Gaza Strip, particularly the struggles faced by young people, women, and children.
In 2018, Al-Sharif also became involved with the Gaza Youth Committee, and later became part of its leadership.
In 2019, Al-Sharif, with the Gaza Youth Committee, organized two bicycle races to bring attention to the struggles of the Gazan population and as a way to provide safe recreation to Gazan youth.{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Elhanan |date=June 24, 2019 |title=Israelis and Gazans negotiate political potholes to bicycle for peace |url=https://plus61j.net.au/editors-picks/israelis-gazans-negotiate-political-potholes-bicycle-peace/ |website=Plus 61J Media}}
Also in 2019, Al-Sharif spent two nights in jail after being arrested for holding an event at her home with both men and women as guests.
In April 2020, Al-Sharif was arrested after advertising a Zoom event called "Skype with your enemy" that included Israeli speakers; several of the event planners were also arrested.{{Cite news |last=Rasgon |first=Adam |date=2020-10-26 |title=Gaza Court Convicts Peace Activists for Video Call With Israelis |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/26/world/middleeast/peace-activists-convicted-gaza.html |access-date=2023-11-04 |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last= |date=October 31, 2020 |title=Hamas releases two men held since April for speaking with Israelis online |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/hamas-releases-two-men-held-since-april-for-speaking-with-israelis-online/ |access-date=2023-11-04 |website=www.jewishnews.co.uk |language=en-US}} She went on to spend three months in a women's prison. She spent some of this time in solitary confinement, and went on a two-week hunger strike to protest the prison conditions. She was released on bail in June 2020. After her release, she returned to Cairo in October before moving to the UAE.
References
Category:21st-century Palestinian journalists
Category:21st-century Palestinian women writers
Category:Palestinian emigrants to Egypt
Category:Palestinian emigrants to the United Arab Emirates
Category:Palestinian anti-war activists
Category:Palestinian women activists